Dr. Nicolas Bisson holds the Canada Research Chair in Proteomics of Cancer. He is an associate professor in the Department of Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry and Pathology of the School of Medicine at Laval University, and a regular researcher at the CHU Research Center of Québec – Laval University. He is also a member of the Laval University Cancer Research Center and the Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function, Engineering, and Applications (PROTEO). Dr. Bisson’s work aims to decipher how cells communicate with each other, and how these signaling mechanisms are deregulated in the development of cancers, particularly in the breast and prostate. In the longer term, the goal of his work is to use entire signaling networks as predictive and therapeutic tools for these cancers, in cases for which conventional strategies fail.

Communication between the cells that form the tissues of our body is of paramount importance. This dialogue is required, not only to ensure that all body parts develop normally as a result of conception, but also that they function properly throughout our lives. Deregulation of cells to send, receive or correctly assimilate signals from their environment (or other cells) can lead to diseases such as cancer. The cellular actors who assume these tasks are the proteins. Most proteins do not work alone: ​​they combine in pairs, or in small (complexes) or large groups (networks). Dr. Bisson’s team is particularly interested in a group of proteins, called adapters, whose primary function is to associate with different proteins (and with each other) in order to help the cell integrate signals from outside and respond adequately. More particularly, they study the signals received by a family of receptors called tyrosine kinase. Through their work, they aim to identify which cell proteins associate with adapters to form complexes and networks, as well as the mechanisms used by the cell to regulate this non-random process. In addition, they aim to analyze how the composition of complexes varies when the cell receives different signals through tyrosine kinase receptors. Finally, they want to determine if the large protein networks are modified in breast and prostate cancer cells, identify what these changes are, and figure out how it is possible to return them to a normal state. To achieve these goals, the team uses innovative proteomics tools to separate and quantify proteins, cell imaging to observe them, animal models of breast or prostate cancer, and patient samples. Their work will provide new insights into protein networks that are essential to cell communication and life, and how they can be used as prognostic tools or therapeutic targets for the treatment of breast and prostate cancer.

Dr. Bisson’s work is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Canada Foundation for Innovation.